Unicorn’s Puberty

Song Meaning

Juan Son's "Unicorn's Puberty" isn't just a song; it's a fragmented, surrealist snapshot of modern alienation. The track opens with a distorted view of adolescence, declaring that "Puberty is not what it used to be," immediately setting a tone of disillusionment. The image of a gallows "not meant to kill" suggests a past where even instruments of death held some semblance of purpose, a stark contrast to the present where "anxiousness was sold as medicine." This sets the stage for a deeply personal, yet relatable, exploration of growing up in a world that feels both medicated and menacing. The repeated line "By dark - I really mean it dark" reinforces a sense of pervasive gloom, hinting at an underlying despair that colors the entire experience. The lyrics then delve into the specifics of this personal experience: the isolation of being an only child, the seemingly trivial yet deeply felt pain of missing out on a videogame, and the fractured family life symbolized by divorced parents. The line "I had to spend my puberty inside a shopping mall" is particularly striking. It evokes a sense of detachment and artificiality, suggesting that the protagonist's formative years were spent in a sterile, consumerist environment, devoid of genuine connection and natural experiences. This image perfectly captures the feeling of being lost and adrift in a world that prioritizes material possessions over emotional well-being. Ultimately, "Unicorn's Puberty" transcends a simple coming-of-age story, becoming a broader commentary on the anxieties and disconnections of contemporary life. The bizarre imagery of a woman playing harps with a "flaming flying caaaar" injects a touch of surrealism, perhaps representing a desperate yearning for escape or a fantastical coping mechanism. The final, almost childlike, "Uh oh / What you gonna do? Uh oh oh!" leaves the listener with a sense of uncertainty and unresolved tension. The song's meaning isn't neatly packaged; it's a raw, fragmented, and deeply personal exploration of what it means to come of age in a world that often feels dark and disorienting.